PORTSMOUTH — The Housing Partnership, a nonprofit affordable housing development organization based in Portsmouth, is offering a free homebuyer education program in Portsmouth through its Homeward Bound program. The workshop will be held on Saturday, Feb. 9 from 9 am-4:30 pm. Registrants must register for and attend all workshops.

Hosted by Portsmouth Public Library at 175 Parrott Ave. in Portsmouth, the HUD-approved certificate program will cover the following topics: nine steps to home ownership; building your financial house; understanding mortgage terms and shopping for a mortgage; shopping for a home and home inspections; closing on your home and maintaining your home and finances.

This class provides first time homebuyers with all the information necessary to make informed decisions. One couple who recently attended the course and bought a house said, “This was a confidence builder. We had the tools to select a good realtor, a good mortgage broker, and a good inspector. It made the process of actually buying a house not as frightening as it appeared.”

Pre-registration is required and space is limited, so those interested are strongly encouraged to sign up early. There are three ways to register:

This program is being offered with funding support from Citizens Bank, People's United Bank and TD Bank. Other support provided by Bank of America, City of Portsmouth, City of Rochester, New Hampshire Housing Finance Authority, and Seacoast and Strafford Boards of Realtors.